Automobile-signal



c. ,H. LANDIS.

AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL.- APPLICATION FILED OCT. 30. 1919- RENEWED MAR.10,1921.

1,383,312,, 7 m mmy 5,1921...

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1- C.v H. LANDIS.

AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL. I -APPLICATION HLED ocT. 30,1919. RENEWED MAR.10.1'921.

1,883,312; l t dl lyilw'l.

mkom m 9 AUTOMOBILE'SIGNAL.

1,383,312., Specification of Application filed October 30, 1919, SerialNo. 334,441. Renewed March 10,1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARK H. LANDIS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Bowling Green, in the county of Wood and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Automobile Signals; andI do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to automobile signals.

@ne object of the invention is to provide an improved signal in which aplurality of lighted compartments combine to produce conventionalrepresentations of arrows and combinations of parts of arrows by the useof lights and appropriate light regulating means.

A'further object is to provide a device of this character in which thesigns are relatively large and distinct, consistent with the relativesmallness and compactness of the device which comprises the signs.

A further object is to provide an improved deviceof this character whichis exceedingly convenient, practical, durable and efficient, and can bemanufactured at a comparatively low cost.

Other objects and advantages may become apparentto the persons who readthe following details of descriptitn in connection with the accompanyingdrawings in which igure 1 is a perspective View illustrating thecomplete device ready for attachment to an automobile and to a source ofelectro-motive force.

Fig. 2is a partition member and lampsupport "detached or removed fromthe box or casing.

Fig. 3 is a vertical, longitudinal sectional view, the section beingtaken along the line 3 3 of Fig. 4.

i .Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional View, the section being4-,4 of Figs. 3 and 10.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the relation of the lamps tothe angular partitions, and alsoshowing the lamp-circuits in connectionwith the main circuit and switch-board.

' Figs. 6 to 9, inclusive are dia 'rammatic views'illustrating theeffect of t e lighted and nondighted lamps in producing oppotaken alongthe lines Lett rs P en Patented July 5, 1921.

Serial No. 51,331.

sitely pointing arrows, portions of arrows and combination of arrows.

Fig. 10 is a fragmental, detail view illustrating one end of the boxwith its cover removed and one of the lamps on the main partition withinthe box.

Referring to these drawings in detail, in which similar referencecharacters correspond with similar several. views,

The device comprises a box 1 having a bottom 2 which is removablysecured by means of U-shaped guides 3, the latter being preferablyformed integrally with the front and rear sides 4, as indicated in Figs.1 and 4. The front and rear sides of the box 1 include transparentsign-figures or sign-surfaces. Although these sign-figures may beotherwise provided, they are provided, according to the presentdisclosure, by fitting panes of glass 5 in the front and rear walls 4and painting or otherwise depositing on portions of the glass an opaquematerial indicated at 6 in Fig. 3. The sign-surface or sign-figure isrepresented by the clear portions of the panes 5, and each of thesesignfigures represents two conventional arrows each of which has itshead included in the feather-end of the other. The front ends of thearrow-heads are outlined and defined by means of angular partitions 7,the points of the arrows terminating in the angles 8 of the partitions 7The main partition 9 extends from end to end of the box or casing 1 anddivides the, latter into front and rear signsections, and this mainpartition supports the. angular partitions 7, being preferably integraltherewith. Byreferring to Figs. 2 and 4, it will be seen that theangular partitions are each slotted vertically to receive the mainpartition, the latter extending up into and terminating at the upperends of the slots, as indicated at 10. In other words, the partitions 7straddle the main, partition and are united therewith on o posite sidesby any appropriate means. h foreover the main partition has lampbrackets or supportingsleeves 11 secured thereto by rivets or otherappropriate means, and the lamps 12, which are supported thereby, shineinto the front and rear partitions alike so that their rays pass outthrough the front and rear sign-figures.

The amps 12 may be connected in parallel, as indicated in Fig. 5, and inthis figure a section of the main circuit is indicated at 13 partsthroughout the middle and left-hand lamps are lighted while and mayreceive its current from any appropriate source (not shown). 'Aswitchboard 14 is connected with the lamp circuits and may be supportedat any appropriate and convenient portion of an automobile on which thisdevice is installed. As shown in Fig. 5, the switches 15 are open sothat the lamps are not lighted. Referring, however, to Fig. .6 it will.be seen that the the right-hand lamp is dark, and therefore, since theright-hand partition does not permit light to enter the right-handcompartment from the middle and left-hand comleftward as indicated-inFig.' 7. When all three compartments are lighted as indicated in Fig. 8,each of the entire sign-surfaces or sign-figures is displayed in theform of two arrows having their stems and heads interlappedupon ormerging with one another.

- On the other hand, if only the middle lamp is lighted, the.double-headed arrow indicated in Fig. 9 is displayed. It is wellknownthat anarrow displayed on an automobileand pointing rightward indicatesthat the automobile is about to turn toward its right, and that if thearrow is pointing leftward, the automobile is about to turn to its left.In using this device, these facts of public knowledge are .made use ofas indicated in Figs. 6 and 7, and in addition, the sign shown in Fig. 8can be displayed to indicatethat the machine is going to stop and thesign illustrated in Fig. 9 can be displayed as a tail lightor signal forindicating that the machine is standing.

Any appropriate wiring connections or circuits may be employed asindicated at 16 and these circuits may extend through the apertures 17in the partitions 7.

A window 18 is provided in the bottom 2 eeasia so that the light mayshine upon the num- I ber plate.

The casing 1, bottom 2 and partition member 9 are preferably formed ofsheet metal with the exception of the non-metallic members previouslymentioned. v

Although I have described this embodiment of my invention specifically,it is not intended to'limit this invention to these exact details ofconstruction and arrangement, but changes may be made within the scopeof the inventive ideas as implied and claimed.

What I claim is that my invention is:

l. A signal of the character described, comprising a housing having itsforward and rear walls provided with openings, a

sign carrying plate covering each opening and marked to provide alongitudinally extending indicator having a head at each'end,transversely extending partitions positioned vertically in the housingand dividing the same into a central compartment and end compartmentsand at points intermediate their height off-set to intersect the headsof the indicators upon the cover plates, a partition carried by thetransverse partitions and extending longitudinally of the housing in theupper portion thereof, and means for.

connecting lighting elements with the lower edge portion of thelongitudinally extending partition for selectively li hting the centraland end compartments of the houslng.

2. A signal of the character described, comprising a housing havingtransparent plates in its forward and rear walls marked to provideindicating emblems, each having heads at its ends, artitions extendingtransversely through t e housing to divide the same into separatecompartments and intersecting the heads of the indicating emblems thepartitions having slits. leading from their upper ends, a longitudinallyextending partition positioned in the housing and extending through theslits and supported by the transversely extending partitions, and meanscarried by the lower edge portion of the longitudinally extendingpartition for supporting illuminating elements beneaththe longitudinallyextending partition to light the forward and rear portions of thehousing.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand. l

CLARK H. LANDIS. I

